Carbon-recovery system and apparatus



Feb. 19, 1929.

A. HEINRICH CARBON RECOVERY SYSTEM ANDY APPARATUS File March 1927 4Sheets-Sheet l Attarmy Feb. 19, 1929.

A. HEINRICH CARBON RECOVERY SYSTEM AND APPARATUS Filed Mrch 2, 1927Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 19, 1929. 1,702,968

. A. HEINRICH CARBON RECOVERY SYSTEM AND APPARATUS I Filed March 1927 4Sheets-Sheet 5] Inventor Attormg Feb. 19, 1929. 1,702,968 '1 A. HEINRICHGARBON RECOVERY SYSTEM AND APPARATUS File March 2, 1927 4 Sheets-Sheet'4 Attornqy forcing this dirt Patented Feb. 19, 1929.

UNITED TATE AMANDUB' HEIENEIGH', OF MONROE, LOUISIANA.

CAREQN-REGQWE'BY SYSTEHL AND, APPARATUS-,- 1

Aliplicatibn fllediliarch 2, 1927. Seriai/No. 172,192.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for recoveringcarbonfrom the waste gases discharged from burning houses and the like, and ineliminating discharge to-the atmosphere of dirt-laden air of suchhouses.

This invention is designedto operate in conjunction with burning housesfor exhausting the carbon and clirt laden air from the houses in adesired manner by providing a cond'ult for construction in the dischar ewithdrawing the air from the%1ousing,.and1n laden air through a suitablefiltering apparatus for separating the dirt from the air, and in theprovision. of automatic means controlling the operation of the apparatusso that the discharge from the burning houses may be opened to theatmosphere, upon failure of the discharge or filtering apparatus. i

A further object of thestructure residesin providing a combination inwhich suitable suction creating means is adapted'to withdraw throughconduit connections the air from the burning houses for discharge intothe filtering device adapted to separate the dust and carbon from theair, and suitable control means governed by theoperation of the suctioncreating means fer controlling the operation of the apparatus insuchiamanner that when the suction means tails of operation, the stacksto the burning houses will be open to the atmosphereto permit theircontinued operation.

he invention further comprehends the provision of an apparatus assembbadapted to carry out the operation of withdrawing the air from theburning houses and, providing an efli'cient control mechanism fordirecting the entry of the air from'the burning houses into the suctionconduit and filtering mechanism or its-release to the atmos phere. I

The invention coinpnehends numerous other objcctsresiding in theparticular construction and relation of the parts which are moreparticularly pointedout in the detail in the following description andclaimsdir'ected to the preferred form, of the invention, it beingunderstood however, that various changes in the size, shape andrelationof the parts may he made without departing from the spirit andscope ofthe invention as herein set forth.

In the drawings forming part of this application,

Figure 1 is a plan view of arow of burning houses showing one form ofthe present invention applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a plan view showing another form of the invention applied to arowot burning houses. i

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 33 ofFig. 1. Y

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4; of Fig, 3,the burning house being shown in elevation.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view 5 of Fig. 2.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan View of a modified arrangement forconnecting the regulator in advance of the fan. The burning houses areindicated at 1 which are usually arranged in rows at opposite sides ofan alleyway 2 in the central portion of which are usually mounted thealley bents 3 on which-suitable apparatus for controlling the burninghouses is adapttaken on the line ed to be mounted. 'lhese burning housesare usually provided with a plurality of stacks or outlet pipes in theroof for. dis charging gasesinto the atmosphere. These gases are heavilyladen with carbon and other similar material which deposits adisagreeable and undesirable dust and dirt deposit overthe surroundingterritory in the usual operationof the houses as now carried on in theart." I

This invention is designedto eliminate this disagreeable discharge ofdust, carbon and other matter,'into the atmosphere and to. recover thesame so that it may be subse uently placedto some useful purposes. For te purpose of this invention, each ofthehouses as shown in Figs. 1,3 andtare provided with stacks 4., mounted at predetermined intervals on theroof extending upwardly there from and terminating in a beveled up orend, formed to provide a valve seat for t e stack valve 5 pivotallymounted on the lower adjacent-edge portion of theupper end as clearlyshown in Fig. 3, as indicated ,at6. These stack valves are attached to asuit,- able shaft which is rotatably mounted so that the rotation of theshaft will operate the valves, and on the end portion ofjeaoh shaft aremounted arms 7 which are connectedby suitablecables or the like 8vadapted when moved to open or close the stack valves as desired, in thealley 2 between the rows of burning houses, one end of the cable 8terminating in the alley way 2 after passing over theroller 9andissecured to the end of the threaded rod 11 carried by the bell cranklever 12 mounted on a suitable operating shaft 13 journaled in bearingsmounted on the alley bent 3.

A suitable handle wheel 1% is threaded on the rod 11 and adapted toadjust the position of the rod in the levers 12. The opposite ends ofthe cables 8 extend over rollers 15 at the rear ends of the burninghouses which are ournalcd in bracketssecured to the ends of said burninghouses, while the ends of the cables have suitable counter-weights 16attached thereto for normally operating the cable in one direction overthe rollers 9 and 15 and adapted to normally maintain an operation ofthe levers 7 so that the flap valves 5 are held in closed position asshown in Fig, 3.

A. branch pipe or conduit 17 is attached to each stack a andcommunicates with the supplemental exhaust pipes or conduits 18, therebeing one of the conduits 18 for adjacent pairs of burning houses asclearly illustrated in Fig. 1. Suitable valves 19 controlcoininuniration between the stack; and supple mental exhaust conduit 18,so that any stack may be shut off from communication with the conduit.This supplemental exhaust conduit communicates with the main exhaustpipe 20 which is mounted over the alleyway 2 in a suitable manner, andat one one is attached to the exhaust fan 21 driven by a suitable motoror the like indicated at 22, which may be an electric motor or any othertype of power unit found desirable for the purpose.

The exhaust from the fan through the pipe 23 from which the air isdischarged into the filtering device 24 for removing dust or other solidparticles from the air, the final exhaust of the purified airbeing thruthe pipe 25, and communicating with the atmosphere, each of thesupplemental exhaust conduits 18 adjacent the point of connection\Vl'tlllllt. main exhaust pipe 20 are provided with suitable controllingvalves 26 in order that when the burning houseson any one supplementalexhaust pipe are not in operation, the valve may be closed, while thesystem is still in use during the operation of the remaining burninghouses.

An operating arm 27 is mounted on the end of the operating shaft 13 asshown in Figs. 1 and 3, and has the piston rod 28 pivotally connected toits free end and which. carries the piston 29 at its opposite endreciprocable in the cylinder 30. The piston and cylinder form a controlunit for the valves 5 on the burning houses in order that they may beopened to permit exhaust through the stack to the atmosphere in a man--nor which will now be described upon failure of operation of the exhaustfan 21.

A conduit 31 is connected to the cylinder 30 at one end and communicateswith a regr later 32 of any suitable'aud desired type as well known andused in the art for controlling the flow of fluid pressure in a pipeline. A pipe 33 is connected to the regulator and with a suitable sourceof fluid under pres sure which is not illustrated for supplying theoperating fluid for admission to the cylinder 30 to operate the pistonand the operating shaft 13 in order to open the valves 5.

The operation of the regulator 32 is preferably controlled in accordancewith the operation of the exhaust fan 21, and for this purpose, a pump34: is preferably operated by the drive mot r 22 for the fan or attachedto the shaft of the fan for operation to pump fluid or "luid pressurethrough the pipe 35 from a suitable reservoir contained in the pump tothe regulator in order to exert the proper pressure in the regulator fornormally maintaining the supply of fluid from the pipe 33 cut off fromsupply to the cylinder 30, while simultaneously the regulator providesfor connection of the conduit 31 to an exhaust for permitting pressurewithin the cylinder to be exhausted to the atmosphere. The regulator maybe of any suitable type well known in the art, as for instance, similarto that shown in Figure 3, ofprior Patent #9611787. This condition willpreferably exist when the fan 21 is operating the proper speed andcreating the proper suction in the main exhaust pipe 20, so that thegases from all of the burning houses attached on said line areimmediately withdrawn and forced into the exhaust pipe 23 and throughthe filter 24 for the separation of solid ma tter, dust and the likefrom the gases, these gases being discharged through the outlet 25 tothe atmosphere. 1

it is necessary to constantly maintain. the exhaust from each of theburning'houses, open and free at all times to prevent explosion, fires,and other damage to the apparatus in the burning houses, and theefliecthe operation of the plant, it will be seen that should the fan 21for any reason fail to main tain the proper suction in the main exhaustpipe 20, there will be no suflicient outlet for the gases from theburning houses, as this would be likely to cause damage to the apparatus in the burning houses and in addition to preventing theoperation thereof.

This invention'therefore provides in addition to the exhausting andfiltering of the gases from the burning houses, means for automaticallycontrolling the operation of the exhausting and filtering systems shoulda failure in the operation of the fan 21 cause a decrease in therequired suction in the main exhaust pipe 20. r 7 From the abovedescription, it will be undcrstood that the pump Bttherefore forms ameans for governing the operation of the system so that-when the fandecreases in speed, and as a result the suction decreases belowapredetermined amount, the pressure This admission of fluid underpressure for.

operating the piston 29'w1ll project'the pis ton thru the cylinderi ormoving the piston rod outwardly through the cylinder-and rotating theoperating shaft 13 as a result for moving the operatingarm 12 downwardlyto operate cables 8 and in turn move the valves 5 on their pivots 1n thedirection of the arrows in Fig. 3 to the open position.

The operation of the piston 29 is cushionedthrough the medium of the,bumper spring 36,as shown in Fig. 3. At the time the piston is projectedto the outer'end of the cylinder for opening the valve 5, as above setforth, thekpiston will uncover a port to the signal 3? for ind'catingthe failure of the fan be made in order to place the fan again in haustoi the gases, and as a result, the operation of the regulator 32 willconnect the cyl inder 30'withthe exhaust and permit the parts to assumethe position shown in Fig. 3, by the operation of the counter-weights 16in normally tending to retain the parts in this position.

The hand wheel 14'permits the proper adiustnient of all the cables andvalves 5 so that they will be operatedin a uniform manner.

- It desired, the regulator 32.may be con-- trolled directly by thesuction in the main ex; haust pipe 20 instead ofthrough the pump 34 asindicated in Fig. 6, through connecting the regulator with a pipe" 38 tothe main exhaust pipe in advance of the fan. VVi'tgh this connection,the regulator will be con: trolleddircctly by the suction crcated'by thefan and when it decreases below af'predete'rmined amount, willpermit-"operation ofthe regulator as above described for permittingpressure to the cylinder to open the valves 5. Fig. 2 shows theinvention applied to a slightly difi'erent type of burning house, theburning houses being indicated at 40 and provided with a large number ofsmall outlet connections 41 instead of the stacks which are allconnected to the supplemental exhaust conduit 42 which in turncommunicates with the main exhaust conduit 43 similar to the conduit 20.Each of the out-let connections 41 is controlled by a suitable Valveindicated diagrammatically at 44 while each of the supplemental exhaustconduit-s 42 are controlled by a valve indicated at 45 positionedadjacent the connection of the conduit with the main exhaust conduit 43in order that the valve may be closed when the burning houses on theparticular supplemental conduits are not in operation.

21, and result the necessary repair may One end of the conduit 43isconnected to the exhaust fan 46-exactly similar to the fan 21, whichis driven by the motor 47 so as to discharge the exhaust gases'throughthe exhaust pipo'48- into the filter 49 in which the solid matter isseparatedfrom the gases and the purified gas discharged into theatmosphei'e through the exhaust 50.

WVith this type of burning house as illustrated-inFig. '2, it isnecessary to provide a common discharge for the gases which is usuallyin the form of a chimney 51 as illustrated and shown in Fig. 2, and inconnection with this invention, the main exhaust pipe 43 is connected bythe branch 52 with the chimney 51, in order that a draft may be createdfor exhausting the gases from the several burning houses through themain exhaust conduit. v

In eflecting the control of theexhaust thru the operation of the fan46,;a valve structure as indicated at 53 in Fig. 2, and moreparticularly in detail in Fig. 5 includes a bodyportion 54 secured tothe branch conduit .52 which is rovided with a guideway 55 for theslidable isk valve 56." One portion of this valve is secured to the rod57 slidably mounted in a bearing in the end of the body 54 as clearlyshown in Fig. 5, while'the-free end has the piston rod 57 carried by thepiston 58 attached thereto. The piston 58 is operable in the cylinder 59so that a control for the valve 56 is provided in this way, the movementof the piston and valve beingcushioned by the coiled spring 60 at theend of its stroke.

A suitable pipe connection 61 extends from the cylinder 59 to theregulator 62, for controlling the admission and exhaust of fluid underpressure from the cylinder 59. The pressure supply pipe is indicated at63 in Fig. 2. i

The regulator is controlled in exactly the same manner as the regulator32 through the the draft in chimney 51 to exhaust gases from the mainexhaust pipe 43 through the branch 52, to the atmosphere.

Under the normal operation of the fan 46, it will be understood that thespring 60 normally maintains the valve 56 in closed position as shown inFig. 5, in order that all of the gases will be forced by the fan throughthe filter 49 for the separation of solid matter therefrom.

When pressure is admitted to the cylinder 59 and the piston 58 moves sothat the valve 56 is in the open position, a port to the signal 67 willbe uncovered in order to indicate the failure of operation of the fan,and the operation of the automatic control apparatus, and as soon asrepairs have been made to the tan, and its normal operation forexhausting the gas from the main exhaust pipe 43 is obtained, theregulator will be again operated as heretofore described to permit theexhaust of fluid pressure from the cylinder 59 so that the valve 56 willclose and. the gases will be forced through the filter 49 in the usualoperation of the apparatus.

The release 01' the pressure in the cylinder 59 permits the spring 60 tooperate the piston in order to move the valve 56 in closed position.

It will therefore be understood from the above description, that thisinvention provides for the recovery of carbon and other solid mattercarried in small particles in suspension in air discharged trom theburning houses in order that the same will form a valuable by-productoi? the burning houses and the deposit of this dirt over the surroundingterritory obviated. This, as it will be understood, is obtained throughcreating the suction in the main exhaust pipe which draws all of thegases from the burning houses into said pipe, and then discharges theminto a suitable form of air filter of any character well known in theart, for separating the carbon particles and dust, and other solidmatter from the air, so that the air and burnt gases may be subsequentlydischarged to the atmosphere in a clean condition, and in which theoperation of the entire apparatus is controlled automatically in orderthat the failure of operation of the fan to properly exhaust the gasesfrom the burning houses, will not interrupt the op eration thereof, orcause any resultant damage from the failure of the fan to operate.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new. is

1. In combination, a burning house having gas outlets, means forwithdrawing the gas from the burning house through said outlets, anatmospheric discharge for the gas independent from said outlets andmeans controlling the passage of gas through either said atmosphericdischarge or said outlets, and responsive to a predetermined variationin the force of said first named means.

2. In combination, a burning house having gas outlets, means forwithdrawing the gases from the burning house through said outlets, astack forming an atmospheric discharge for the gas, independent fromsaid outlets, and means governed by the operation of the first mentionedmeans for controlling the discharge of gas through said stack.

3. In combination, a burning house having gas outlets, power operatedexhausting means for withdrawing the gases through said outlets from theburning houses, a stack forming an independent atmospheric outlet forthe gas from said burning house, means normally closing said stack whenthe exhausting means is operating, and power operated means forautomatically operating the last named means to open said stack upon thefailure of the power operated exhaust means.

4. In combination, a burning house having gas outlets, suction operatedmeans for withdrawing the gases from the burning house through saidoutlets, a stack forming forming an independent atmospheric outlet forthe gas from said burning house, means normally closing said atmosphericoutlet when the exhausting means is operating, power operated means foroperating the last named means whereby to open said atmospheric outlet,said last-named power operated means being automatically controlledthrough the actionof the first named power operated means. i

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

AMANDUS HEINRICH.

